Do you follow recipes?

[slick]

I want that recipe for tomato pie, please......

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Originally posted by Randi
I usually follow the recipe the first time, but after that, I tend to improvise a little.

Sounds just like me!!

[Cataholic]

The tomatoe pie was/is (since I have leftovers!) fantastic! There are a bunch of recipes on the web for it. This is what I did:

1-frozen pie crust (actually, mine was refridgerated), 9 inch. Bake the shell for 5 minutes at 425. This helps harden the bottom which gets a little soggy cause of the 'maters!

1/2 cup mayo (though I used more), mixed in with 1 cup shredded swiss (I used 1.5 cups swiss, AND some herbed feta). Mix those together as much as you can mix cheese and mayo, anyhow.

The recipe called for basil and scallions- cup of each. I used fresh basil, but, used yellow onion instead of scallion. I sliced the onion thin, and layed it on top of the tomatoes, which are cut 1/2 inch thick, then, cut in half to fit better.

I lined the partially cooked shell with two layers of tomatoe, and thinly sliced onion. Then, I added the basil on top. This part is hard to imagine, but, I then made little pats of the cheese/mayo mixture, and pieced it together on top of the tomatoe. The idea is to get as much coverage as you can, knowing the cheeses will melt together, which they did. It gets a really nice cheesy crust on top.

The next time I make it (and it will be soon since I have another shell in the fridge) I will drain the tomatoes ALOT more, I will also add more tomatoe, onion and cheese, and I will line the edge of the crust with aluminum, to keep it from getting too done ahead of the tomatoes.

Oh, I baked it for another 30 minutes at 400 (note that that is reduced from the original 425). The pie crust gives it a slightly sweet taste, and the fresh basil just really takes ahold! It is delicious.

[furrykidsmother]

I will usually try the recipe "as is" the first time. Then will adjust however I think it can be improved on. I like to try new recipes, I get sick of the same things.

[Randi]

Johanna, that tomato pie sounds yummy - must try it one day! I too have a few frozen pie crusts in the freezer.

[ParNone]

Our family recipes consist of the dump system. Dump a lil' this in and a lil' that in. As a result, I learned to cook by taste and texture. So it's rare I strictly follow a recipe, even baking ones, I'll tweak a lil'.

Par...

[Logan]

Hey Johanna.......those are fresh tomatoes, right? I know that the riper they are, the juicier they are. I'm the only one who will eat tomatoes in my family, darn it, plus I'm dieting so no "pie" for me, but my mouth is watering after reading how you made it!

[chrangharris]

Recipes are just a mere suggestion of what to do!